Final answer:
A prolapsed valve occurs when the chordae tendineae are damaged, preventing proper closure and leading to regurgitation, where blood flows backward, detectable as a heart murmur. Heart valve disorders such as mitral insufficiency and stenosis can require a range of treatments from monitoring to surgery, depending on severity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heart Valve Disorders and Prolapse Valve Problem
A prolapsed valve is a condition in which one or more of the valve's cusps are pushed backward due to the force of blood, which may occur if the chordae tendineae are damaged or broken. This damage can prevent the valve from closing correctly, leading to a disruption in the normal one-way flow of blood and causing a condition known as regurgitation, where blood flows back along its path. This abnormal flow can be detected as a heart murmur through auscultation with a stethoscope. Mitral insufficiency, or mitral regurgitation, is a common type of prolapse that affects about 2 percent of the population and is often subject to medical monitoring or intervention.
Disorders of the heart valves can result in valvular heart disease, which ranges from mild to severe. Besides prolapse and regurgitation, valves can become stiff in a condition known as stenosis, where they lose flexibility and potentially calcify over time, making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood through the stiffened valves and possibly leading to a weakening of the heart. Conditions like aortic stenosis become more prevalent with age and can have serious implications if not treated properly.
It's important to note that different valves can be affected, like the aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves. Each valve's malfunction is termed after its name, such as aortic insufficiency or pulmonary insufficiency, and the treatment for these valve disorders can range from medication management to surgical intervention, depending on the severity and impact on the individual's health.